Attaching means for lens mounts



UL.. lllvl I IIVVV une 13, 1950 c. M. LEE

AT'rAcHING MEANS FoR LENS uoums Filed Sept. 10, 1947 FIG. 3. 31 2 22 Z4 .lllll 'lil CHARLES M. LEE

I N VEN TOR Patented June 13, 1950 .JLHIlL/I'I KUUI ATTACHIN G MEANS FOR LENS MOUNTS Charles M. Lee, Rochester, N. Y., assigner to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation o! New Jersey Application September 10, 1947, Serial No. 773,197 Claims. (Cl. 88-57) The present invention relates to cameras, and more particularly to a lens mount attaching mechanism therefor.

The present invention has as its principal object the provision oi a lens mount attachment which is simple, rugged and enective.

Still another object oi the invention Ls the provision of a lens mount in which the prism may be oriented to a desired position.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision oi' an attachment which enables the lens barrel to be connected selectively to the camera in any one of four positions.

And another object oi the invention is the provision of a positioning and clamping means for retaining the lens barrel and prism in proper relation to the camera.

To these and other ends, the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a lens barrel and prism, showing the relation thereto of an attaching mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the parts illustrated in Fig. 1, showing the arrangement by which the lens and prism may be connected selectively in any one of four positions;

Fig. 3 is a partial longitudinal sectional view through the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1 and taken substantially on line 8 3 thereof, showing the arrangement for clamping the parts in connected relation; and

Fig. 4 is a partial transverse sectional view through the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1 and taken substantially on line I-I thereof, showing the releasible connecting means for the expanslble collar.

Similar reference numerals throughout the various views indicate the same parts.

The present invention is embodied, in the present instance, in an attaching mechanism for connecting a lens barrel II releasibly to the front of a camera. The front end of the mount has secured thereto a prism I2 for directing the light rays from a laterally arranged object to the lens elements positioned in the lens tube, as is customary with copying cameras oi' well-known construction.

A ring I3 is provided with holdes I I to receive screws or other fastening means for securing the ring to the front of the camera, not shown.

A tubular sleeve I5 projects forwardly from the ring and terminates in an attaching plate I8 to which the lens barrel and prism may be detachably secured in a, manner to be later described. The plate It is in the f orm oi a hollow square so as to provide a central opening or aperture through which the light rays from the lens barrel may pass to the sensitized material positioned at the rear of the camera. as is apparent. The ring I3, sleeve I5 and plate I! are integral and provide a single means to which the lens barrel may be secured detachably. Therefore, these members may be broadly considered as a single mechanism or plate for mounting the lens barrel. The plate I t is provided with bent-up sides I1, as best shown in Fig. 2, each of which is formed with a pair of spaced inwardly-extending lugs I8 which are parallel to and overlie the front face I9 of the plate It and cooperate therewith to form, in eii'ect, a vertically-arranged marginal track or guideway 20, the purpose of which will be later described.

The rear end oi the lens barrel II is threaded at 2I to engage a corresponding thread 22 for'med on a tubular member or sleeve 2l preferably formed integral with a square plate 2l which is slightly smaller than the plate I0. Each side face 2S of the plate 2l is provided with a pair of open-end slots or notches 2Q which are spaced a distance equal to the spacing of the lugs I8. It will be apparent that if the plate 24 is brought adjacent and parallel to the plate It, with the slots 2B registering with the lugs I8, the plate 2l may be moved axially to pass the lugs through the slots and to position the opposite faces 25 of the plate 24 in the track or guideway 20. Now by moving the plate 2l, with its attached lens barrel II and prism I2, radially or downwardly, the slots 26 will be moved out of register with the lugs I8 to lock the plate 2l in the guideways 2l, as shown in Fig. 2. The lugs It, guideway 2O and slots 2B provide, in eiiect, a simple and effective bayonet lock construction for connecting the parts detachably. The connecting or disconnecting oi the parts requires only a slight relative movement, as is apparent. As each side face 25 oi the plate 24 is provided with a pair of slots 28, the barrel II and prism I2 may be podtioned accurately in any one of iour positions spaced degrees apart so that the prism may be directed in the'desired relation.

lh order to maintain the plate 2l accurately in position in the guideways 2li, means is provided i'or clamping the plates It and 2l together. To this end, the sleeve Il is formed with an internal thread 21 along which a threaded tubular sleeve 28 may move. It is apparent from an inspection of Fig. 3, that when the sleeve 28 is moved to the left along thread 2l, the left end 29 will engage the rear face 38 of the plate 24 to urge the latter forwardly and into clamping relation with the lugs I8 to hold the parts tightly in adjusted relation. As the lugs I8 are formed integral with the plate I6, the sleeve 28 may be broadly considered as means of clamping the plates I6 and 24 together. An operating handle 3| is secured to the sleeve 28 and projects radially through an arcuate slot 32 formed in sleeve I5 so that by merely rocking the handle, the sleeve 28 may be moved axially to clamp or release the plates I8 and 24.

When the plate 24 has been assembled and connected to the plate I6, in the manner above described and shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the lowermost face 25 of the plate 24 will engage a forwardly extending lip or lug 33 on the lower edge 34 of the plate I6 to limit further downward movement of the plate 24. This lip thus acts as a stop which accurately positions the lens barrel I I and prism I2. In addition, the lip also provides means for supporting the plate 24 and hence the lens barrel and prism connected thereto.

When the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and the operator wishes to disconnect the entire assembly from plate I6, it is merely necessary to raise the plate 24 upwardly until the notches 26 are brought into register with the lugs I8. Then a straightforward or axial movement serves to move the plate 24, and attached parts, forwardly so as to allow the lugs I8 to pass through the slots 28. Thus, a slight vertical combined with an axial movement serves to disconnect, or connect, the parts to plate I6. As the plate 24 is only slightly larger than the sleeve ring 23, the vertical movement necessary to disconnect the parts may bring the surface 34 of the sleeve 23 into engagement with the lower edge 35 of the upper lugs to prevent complete registration of the lugs and slots. Obviously, this difficulty could be overcome by cutting off the corners of the lugs. It is preferred, however, to provide the surface 34 with a peripheral groove 38 into which the lugs I8 may extend during the connecting or disconnecting operation; These grooves provide the desired clearance between the sleeve 23 and the lugs I8.

After the parts have been assembled, it may be desirable to rotate the prism to change the position thereof without necessitating disconnecting the plates I6 and 24. To secure this result, the ring 23 is split at 31. Fig. 4, and is provided with a pair of upstanding ears 38 and 38. A screw 40 extends through ear 39 and engages a threading opening in ear 38. It is apparent, 'that when the screw 40 is turned in one direction, the ears 38 and 39 will be drawn together to clamp thread 22 into locking relation with the thread 23 to hold the lens barrel II and prism I2 in adjusted position. However, when the position of 'the prism is to be changed, it is merely necessary to turn screw 40 in the opposite direction to separate ears 38 and 35. This separation of the ears loosens the thread 32 to permit th lens barrel and prism to be turned to the desired po' sition relative to the ring 34. whereupon, the screw 40 is again tightened to draw ears 38 and 39 together to clamp thread 22 into engagement with thread 2|.

The lens barrel II may have positioned thereon an adjustable diaphragm 4I connected in any suitable and well-known manner to a diaphragmoperating means 42 carried by the outer surface of the lens barrel. C1ick" stops may be provided for the diaphragm-operating ring and these stops may be in the form of a spring press ball 43 adapted to engage in detents formed in the operating ring 42.

The present invention thus provides a lens mount attachment which enables the lens barrel and prism to be readily, quickly and accurately connected to an attaching plate secured to the camera front. The connection serves to position the barrel and to support the latter and the prism. In addition, the prism and barrel may be attached in any one of four positions spaced degrees apart. When the parts are in connected relation, they are readily clamped in position, but may be readily disconnected when desired. In addition, when the plates are in clamped relation, a split clamping ring may be released 'to permit the lens barrel and prism to be rotated to the proper position to photograph the objects to be recorded.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive idea may be carried out in a number of ways. This application is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described. but is intended to cover all variations and modifications thereof falling within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A lens mount attaching mechanism comprising, in combination, an apertured plate adapted to be attached to the front of a camera. a lens barrel, a flange plate, an expandible threaded collar carried by said flange plate and adapted to receive said barrel. means for releasing said collar to permit said barrel to be turned relative to said flange plate, means for detachably connecting said plates. and means on said apertured plate for supporting the flange'plate to position said barrel relative to said camera'.

2. A lens and prism mount attaching mechanism comprising. in combination, an apertured plate adapted'to be attached to the front of a camera, a lens barrel having lens elements riositioned therein. a prism secured to the front of said barrel, av flange plate. an expandible collar carried by said ange plate and adapted to receive the rearend of said barrel. means for expanding said collar to permit said prism to be turnedrelative to said flange plate, means for connecting said flange plate detachably to said apertured plate, means on said apertured plate for supporting said flange plate and positioning said barrel and prism relative to said camera. and an axially movable member having coactlng meansl carried by said apertured plate for clan'i'ping said plates together. l

3. A lens mount attaching mechanism comprising, in combination, an apertured Yplate adapted to be attached to the front of a camera, lugs carried by said plate and overlying the latter and cooperating therewith to form guide'waya-a lens barrel, a flange secured to said barrel, said ilange being formed with slots which when brought into registry with said lugs will permit the flange to be moved axially toward said plate and into said guideways. radial movement of said flange then serving to move said slots out of registry with said lugs to lock said flange in 'said guideways, and means. forlimiting the radial s: movement of said flange to position said barrel relative to said camera.

4. A lens mount attaching mechanism comprising, in combination, an apertured plate adapted to the front of a camera, lugs lcarried by said plate and overlying the latter and cooperating therewith to form guideways, a lens barrel, a flange secured to said barrell said iiange being formed with slots which when brought into registry with said lugs will permit the flange to be moved axially toward said plate and into said guideways, radial movement of said flange then serving to move said slots out of registry with said lugs to lock said iiange in said guideways, means for limiting the radial movement of said flange to position said barrel relative to said camera, and means on said plate for engaging said flange to support the latter and said barrel.

5. A lens mount attaching mechanism comprising, in combination, an apertured plate adapted to be attached to the front of a camera, lugs carried by said plate and overlying the latter and cooperating therewith to form guide'ways, a lens barrel, a flange secured to said barrel, said flange being formed with slots which when brought into registry with said lugs will permit the flange to be moved axially toward said plate and into said guideways, radial movement of said ilange then serving to move said slots out of registry with said lugs to lock said flange in said guideways, and a lip formed in the lower edge of said plate to limit the radial movement of said ange to position said barrel relative to said camera. and to support said ange and barrel.

6. A lens mount attaching mechanism comprising, in combination, an apertured plate adapted to be attached to the front of a camera, lugs carried by said plate and overlying the latter and cooperating therewith to form guideways, a lens barrel, a ange secured to said barrel, said flange being formed with slots which when brought into registry with said lugs will permit the flange to be moved axially toward said plate and into said guideways. radial movement of said flange then serving to move said slots out of registry with said lugs to lock said flange in said guideways, means for limiting the radial movement of said ilange to position said barrel relative to said camera, and a threaded member carried by said plate and movable relative thereto and into engagement with said flange to clamp the latter in tight engagement with said lugs.

7. A lens mount attaching mechanism comprising, in combination, an apertured plate adapted to be attached to the front of a camera, lugs carried by said plate and overlying the latter and cooperating therewith to form guideways, a lens barrel, a flange secured to said barrel, said ilange being formed with slots which when brought int registry with said luswill permit the ange to be moved axially toward said plate and into said guideways, radial movement of said flange then serving to move said slots out of registry with said lugs to lock said ange in said guideways, means f for limiting the radial movement of said flange to position said barrel relative to said camera, a threaded member mounted inside said plate and movable axially thereof and into engagement with said flange to shift the latter axially and into tight clamping relation with said lugs, and an operating handle connected to said member and projecting through said plate.

' 8. A lens mount attaching mechanism comprising, in combination, an apertured plate adapted to be attached to the front of a camera, lugs carried by said plate and overlying the latter and cooperating therewith to form guideways, a lens barrel, a prism attached to the front end of said barrel, a flange. a threaded expandible collar attached to said flange and adapted to threadably receive the rear end of said barrel, means for expanding said collar to release said barrel to permit said barrel and prism to be turned relative thereto, said iiange being formed with edge slots so that when said ilange is positioned adjacent said plate and with said slots and lugs in registry the flange may be moved axially toward said plate to position said flange in said guideways, a radial movement of said ange in said guideways serving to move said slots out of registry with said lugs to lock said nange in said guideways, and means for supporting and positioning said flange on said plate.

9. A lens mount attaching mechanism comprising, in combination, a square apertured plate adapted to be attached to the front of a camera, a pair of spaced lugs carried by the opposite side edges of said plate and overlying the latter and cooperating therewith to form marginal guideways, a lens barrel, a prism connected to the front end of said barrel, a. square ange plate, an expandible threaded collar connected to said ange plate, an expandible threaded collar connected to said flange plate and adapted to threadably receive the rear end of said lens barrel, means for expanding said collar to release said barrel to permit the latter to be rotated to orient said prism relative to said camera, each edge of said flange plate being formed with edge notches spaced the same as said lugs so that when said plates are arranged in adjacent relation said lugs and certain of said notches will be in registry so that the ange plate may be moved towards said apertured plate to position the flange plate in said guideways, a radial movement of said ange plate then serving to move said notches out of registry with said lugs to lock said flange plate in said guideways, and a lip formed on the lower edge of said apertured plate for limiting the radial movement of said flange plate and to support the latter on the apertured plate, said lugs and notches permitting said flange plate to be connected to the apertured plate in a plurality of selected positions.

10. A lens mount attaching mechanism comprising, in combination, a square apertured plate adapted to be attached to the front of a camera, a pair of spaced lugs carried by the opposite side edges of said plate and overlying the latter and cooperating therewith to form marginal guideways, a lens barrel, a prism connected to the front end of said barrel, a square flange plate, an expandible threaded collar connected to said flange plate and adapted to threadabiy receive the rear Y end of said lens barrel, means for expanding said collar to release said barrel to permit the latter to be rotated to orient said prism relative to said camera, each edge of said flange plate being formed with edge notches spaced the same as said lugs so that when said plates are arranged in adjacent relation said lugs and certain of said notches will be in registry so that the flange plate may be moved toward said apertured plate to p0- sition the flange plate in said guideways, a radial movement of said ilange plate then serving to move said notches out of registry with said lugs to lock said iiange plate in said guideways, a lip formed on the lower edge o1' said apertured plate for limting the radial movement oi! said flange 7 8 plate and to support the latter on thetngpeured REFERENCES CITED plate, said lugs and notches permi laid wing ences iiange plate to be connected to the apertured plate 11131:; 1111: mig m of record m the in any one of four positions, a threaded sleeve mounted inside said apertured plate and movable 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS axially thereof to engage said flange plate to move Number Name Date the latter towards and into clamping relation 761,977 Menchen June 7, 1904 with said lugs, and an operating handle for said 1,849,172 Caps Mar. 15,1932

sleeve connected to the latter and projecting 2,042,005 Hutchings May 26, 1936 through said apertured plate. l0 2,124,134 Brorsen July 19, 1938 CHARLES M. LEE. 2,293,593 Clskl Aug. 18, 1942 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,511,212 June 13, 1950 CHARLES M. LEE It is hereby certified that errorv appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 6, lines 27, 28, and 29, strike out the words and comma an expandible threaded collar connected to said flange plate,

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 19th day of September, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant ommz'sn'aner of Paten'ts.

Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,511,212 June 13, 1950 CHARLES M. LEE

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification ofthe above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 6, lilies 27, 28, and 29, str1ke out the Words and comma an expandible threaded collar connected to said flange plate/;` and that the said Letters Patent should be read With this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent OfHce.

Signed and sealed this 19th day of September, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Gommzssz'aner of Patents. 

